THE STRANGE LAUGH

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 26 (Supplement)

THE STRANGE LAUGH

Joan was longing to explore the cliffs.

“All right. We’ll take Neddy too,” answered Brian. “Come on, old chap.” And he gave the donkey a pat on his shaggy back. “There may be smugglers,” Joan. “Oh, look!” She pointed to a large cave. “Let’s go in and see what there is inside. No, Neddy, you had better wait outside.” The two children quickly dismounted and entered the dim cavern. “Boom! Boom!” thundered the sea as it dashed on the rocks close by. “It’s getting quite dark,” whispered Joan. “Here, I’ve my torch.” Brian drew it out and flashed the light on the shining walls. “Oh, look! A box! It’s a treasure chest,” cried Joan, and she ran to a dark object in a corner. “Oh, Brian, can you open it?” Together they tugged at the straps, and at last with a jerk the box flew open. “Bah!” exclaimed Brian disgustedly. “It’s nothing but an old picnic set, rusty and wet!” “See, the floor is becoming all wet, and how cold it feels,” wispered Joan, and her voice sounded strange and hollow.

“Oh, what’s that?” She gave a little shriek as a deep laugh echoed through the gloomy cavern. This weird sound was followed by another.

“It’s nothing,” comforted Brian, but his voice was rather shaky. “Come on, Joan, we’d better go.” “It’s there again!" Joan caught her brother’s arm. “And look! What’s that?”

A dark shape almost blotted out the entrance, and again the strange

sound echoed along tne passage. Suddenly Brian burst out laughing. “Why, it’s Neddy! See, Joan, It’s only Neddy. He’s come to meet us.” They rushed forward and grasped Neddy’s bridle. “The tide has come up while we were in the cave. See, it’s all water where the sands at the entrance to the cave was. Jump up behind me, Joan,” cried Brian, and away they splashed across the water. “That laugh,” jerked out Joan as they bounced along, “was Neddy warning us of danger.” “Good old Neddy!” Brian patted the shaggy neck. “You shall have an extra large carrot and four lumps of sugar when we reach home. Gee up! ” “He-haw!” brayed Neddy, two minutes later, as they stepped on to the sands.